Bohemian Rhapsody hit number one in the charts when it was first released in 1975 and duplicated the feat 16 years later when it was reissued to raise funds to fight AIDS after the death of Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury. The six-minute song of several varied movements was the closest that a pop single came to classic opera way back in 1971. This is according to a poll of over 31,000 people made by British Hit Singles and published by the Guinness Book of Records. As I mentioned, she did this album all by herself and the clever interplay of power ballad, rock and hip hop sounds does more for the album then all of her broken-hearted meanderings.īohemian Rhapsody, the epic rock tune by Queen, was recently named Britains favorite single of all time. The best way to appreciate Under Rug Swept is to sweep every agonizing whine from Alanis under the rug and concentrate on her deeply expressive voice and marvel at how musically accomplished she has become. But even the best intentioned of listeners can tire of such avowals and this massive dose of Alanis mind, heart, soul, vocal chords, etc., etc., can induce boredom, send you packing or in exasperation, climbing up the walls. Wed rise post-obstacle more defined more grateful/we would heal be humbled and be unstoppable/wed hold close and let go and know when to do which/wed release and disarm and stand up and feel safe, she exults in Utopia. The aftermath of that experience is this chronicle of recriminations that shows hints of healing only on the last cut. And then steeped in desperation she asks, When will I stop leaving baby? When will I stop deserting baby? When will I start staying with myself? Whats it been over a decade? It still smarts like it was four minutes ago, she admits with so much pain in Flinch. If you werent so wise beyond your years, I wouldve been able to control myself, she chides him in the first single Hands Clean. Dear Mommas boy, is how she calls him in Narcissus. Are you unhibited in bed? More than three times a week? she asks in 21 Things I Want in a Lover. Her focus is on a particular man who broke her heart. This means that this is her most personal effort ever and she will sink or swim on her own merits.Īlanis is known for the confessional outpourings in her songs and Under Rug Swept tells more than the others ever did. She also played guitars and keyboards in all of the cuts. Each one of the 11 tracks in the album was written, performed and produced by Morissette. At best it should surpass the remarkable sales performance of Jagged Little Pill and forever enshrine Alanis in the pantheon of the greatest and most popular music artists of all time.Īlanis is without Glenn Ballard, the producer who ably steered her through both her two earlier albums in this, her third outing. At the very least it should sell much, much more than Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie or else industry talks will take a turn for the worse. So you can just imagine how much is expected from Morissettes latest studio recorded album Under Rug Swept. Her second Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie has already done a respectable 2.5 million in sales but that is so way, way behind her first one and talks are already rife that the Canadian pop star is fast losing her touch. That is over 14 million copies sold of her Grammy-winning debut recording Jagged Little Pill, considered one of the biggest-selling albums in pop music history. "Under Rug Swept" ranges from the guitar-heavy "21 Things I Want In A Lover" and "Narcissus", to the subtle rhythmic grooves of "So Unsexy" and "You Owe Me Nothing In Return", to the expansive balladry of "Flinch" and "That Particular Time".Alanis Morissette sets steep standards with every album she makes. As did Alanis' previous bandmates Nick Lashley, Joel Shearer, Chris Chaney and Gary Novak. "Under Rug Swept" is clearly a mixture of guitars and keyboards with subtle atmospheric guitar and pedal sounds and percussion/loops.Ī number of gifted musicians also lent their talents to this album including Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Meshell Ndegeocello, Dean DeLeo (Stone Temple Pilots) and Eric Avery. In true Alanis style, she plays both acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards and sings vocals on this album. I felt like that was the kind of Zen number." And in my gut I didn't want anymore than 11 songs on the record. "There were so many songs to pick from when it came time to decide what the final sequence would be on the record. "Under Rug Swept" was written and produced by Alanis in both Canada and Los Angeles and of the 30 written and recorded songs intended for the album, 11 tracks feature. Successful Canadian singer/songwriter ALANIS MORISSETTE is back with a brilliant new album.